Use eco gels to tame your hair frizz and tame the environmental impact with clean, sustainable, and cruelty-free ingredients.
Over the decades, humans have had an up-and-down relationship with frizz. In the 1980s, the perm was all the rage. And those big curls came with one common side effect: a whole lot of fuzz. Some embraced it, but others did everything they could to control it. And, while styles and trends have changed in the decades since, the story is very similar now. Whether you’ve got fine hair, thick hair, a mane of tight curls, or a barnet of loose waves, if you want absolutely no frizz, we’ve got you covered. All of these eco gels will help to tame hair frizz and leave your locks looking healthy and luscious. Plus, they’re eco-friendly too — here’s why that part is so important.
Why choose eco gel hair products?
The global haircare market is massive. Right now, it’s worth more than $77 billion, which means that a heck of a lot of products are flying off shelves every day. This is all well and good for our hair, but, when you consider most of these products are packaged in single-use plastic, for the planet, it’s the equivalent of a really bad hair day. Really, really bad.
Plastic isn’t biodegradable, which means that any bottles thrown away now won’t break down in the environment for years to come. And when they do, they’ll turn into microplastics. But packaging pollution is only one of the haircare industry’s environmental problems. Ingredients are another issue.
Parabens, for example, are a common preservative. They have become the enemy of clean beauty lovers because of the potential harm they can do — not just to our bodies, but to the planet too. For example, in 2008, research confirmed a link between butylparaben and coral death, according to the Environmental Working Group.
And while natural ingredients are often considered to be “greener” options, this isn’t always the case. Palm oil, for example, is a natural ingredient, and it is used in everything from makeup to food to hair care. But, while it can be harvested responsibly, much of its cultivation is driving deforestation and habitat destruction around the world. In Indonesia, the industry is responsible for destroying around one-third of old-growth forests.
Best eco gels for taming frizz
When it comes to hair care, choosing the right products for you and the planet can be confusing. That’s why we’ve picked these five eco gels, each of which comes from brands that are committed to doing the right thing for the environment. And taming your frizz, of course.
1. Rahua Aloe Vera Hair Gel
There’s a reason this hair gel won an Allure Best of Beauty 2022 Award. The formula is packed with nutrients (aloe vera, cucumber, and chlorophyll are all sources of antioxidants), and it will help to smooth and tame frizz, while still feeling soft and lightweight after application. Rahua is also known for its commitment to sustainability (its packaging is recyclable) and the health of the rainforest. The brand has even worked closely with Amazonian Indigenous people to produce legal tools for the preservation of around 150,000 acres of rainforest.
2. Ceremonia Pequi Styling Gel
Ceremonia’s clean, medium-hold hair gel is powered by pequi oil, açaí, and aloe that nourishes while it styles, leaving hair super shiny without feeling sticky. Ceremonia’s signature fragrance has soft, woody notes with a hint of lemon zest. Plus, the brand meets Sephora’s Clean + Planet Positive Guidelines, making it not only a clean choice, but a better one for the planet, too.
3. Eco Cosmetics Organic Hair Gel
This organic hair gel, which prides itself on its “nonsticky formula,” features several hair-nourishing ingredients, including kiwi, which is associated with promoting hair growth, and jojoba oil, which has moisturizing, strengthening properties. Most of Eco Cosmetics’ ingredients are sourced from organic farms, and it is certified by EcoCert, which aims to guarantee that the best environmentally-friendly practices have been followed in production.
4. Carina Organics Styling Gel
If you’re sensitive to fragrance, this Carina Organics Styling Gel is totally unscented, and it’s alcohol-free too. It will help to smooth, tame, and control your hair, without leaving you with a sticky residue, or a crunchy feel when it’s dry. Plus, it uses certified organic ingredients, and it’s hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, and synthetic-free.
5. Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Gel
This concentrated, cream-based, healthy vegan hair gel does more than just tame frizz; its prickly pear, pumpkin seed, and almond oil base elongates, moisturizes, and defines without drying out your hair, making it crunchy, or tacky. The minty oil trio: wintergreen, spearmint, and peppermint promotes a healthy scalp and a fresh feeling. Another Clean at Sephora product, Adwoa also comes in 100 percent recyclable packaging.
6. Lush Infra Wig
Lush’s Infra Wig hair styling gel, which contains cleansing lemon and grapefruit extract, as well as moisturizing vanilla and olive, will help to smooth and nourish hair simultaneously. For super curly hair, it will also help to add definition, without feeling too crunchy. Like all of Lush’s products, this gel comes in a pot made with 100 percent recycled plastic.
7. A Simple Planet Flaxseed Gel
With a lightweight formula, A Simple Planet’s Flaxseed Gel will help to tame frizz without feeling too heavy or sticky in your hair. Plus, the vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids in the flaxseed are associated with promoting hair growth, as well as strengthening your strands too. Even better: this product is totally refillable. When you’re finished, you can order a refill pouch, which helps to cut down on packaging waste.
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